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Lightweight collaborative robot for flexible automation
FANUC America introduces CRX-3iA cobot and expands CRX series capabilities to support portable automation, high-mix tasks and scalable industrial applications.
www.fanuc.eu
FANUC America has introduced the CRX-3iA, an ultra-lightweight addition to its collaborative robot (cobot) lineup. Weighing just 11 kg (24 lbs.), the CRX-3iA is designed for rapid redeployment across high-mix, small-scale tasks where permanent automation is impractical. Alongside this hardware launch, FANUC is rolling out systemic enhancements across the entire CRX series—including the CRX-30iA—to support heavier payloads, advanced welding profiles, and the new R-50iA controller architecture.
CRX-3iA: Technical Specifications and Portability
The CRX-3iA occupies a specific niche for manufacturers requiring mobility. Its design allows a single operator to carry and set up the unit in minutes.
- Payload & Reach: 3 kg payload with a 692 mm reach.
- Installation Flexibility: Native support for magnetic bases and wall/ceiling mounting. It features automatic mounting angle detection, eliminating manual calibration.
- Target Applications: Precision tasks such as screwdriving, tool positioning, inspection, and small-scale assembly in confined work areas.
- Intelligent Welding: Supports auto-weld point detection and auto-path generation. Touch-sensing capabilities allow the robot to function accurately even without precise initial placement.
- Advanced Welding: The "Triangle Weave" Profile
A significant technical hurdle in automated welding has been "Vertical Up" welding, where gravity causes the weld puddle to sag. FANUC’s new Triangle Weave vertical-up profile replicates skilled manual techniques to counteract this sag. This allows CRX cobots to handle out-of-position welding tasks that were previously reserved for highly experienced human welders, managed through an intuitive software interface.
Enhanced Performance for Heavy-Duty and Mass Production
FANUC is pushing the boundaries of what "collaborative" systems can achieve by increasing throughput and load capacities:
Enhanced Performance for Heavy-Duty and Mass Production
FANUC is pushing the boundaries of what "collaborative" systems can achieve by increasing throughput and load capacities:
- Palletizing: The CRX-30iA now supports payloads up to 40 kg. A new high-flow air kit enables the use of large suction grippers for heavier cases.
- High-Inertia Mode: Allows the cobot to guide extremely heavy loads in tandem with a lift-assist device. This hybrid approach removes ergonomic strain while maintaining collaborative safety zones.
- Dual Nut Runners: Supports simultaneous operation of two nut runners, doubling fastening throughput for mass production environments.
Next-Generation Control: R-50iA Integration
The transition to the R-50iA controller brings the CRX series into the modern digital supply chain and industrial AI landscape. Key technical upgrades include:
The transition to the R-50iA controller brings the CRX series into the modern digital supply chain and industrial AI landscape. Key technical upgrades include:
- Python Scripting: Facilitates easier customization and integration with proprietary software stacks.
- AI & ROS 2 Support: Higher frequency streaming motion support enables advanced AI-driven applications and seamless integration with the Robot Operating System (ROS 2).
- Cybersecurity: Enhanced protection protocols for connected factory environments.
- Coordinated Motion: Support for auxiliary axis part positioners, enabling the cobot to synchronize movements with a rotating workpiece for complex laser or welding applications.
Strategic Impact on Flexible Manufacturing
The expansion of the CRX line addresses the growing need for "flexible automation." By providing tools that scale from 11 kg portable units to 40 kg palletizing systems, FANUC enables manufacturers to automate high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) tasks alongside traditional mass production. This versatility ensures that automation can be moved where it is needed most, reducing the reliance on fixed infrastructure and allowing for a more agile response to shifting market demands.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
The expansion of the CRX line addresses the growing need for "flexible automation." By providing tools that scale from 11 kg portable units to 40 kg palletizing systems, FANUC enables manufacturers to automate high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) tasks alongside traditional mass production. This versatility ensures that automation can be moved where it is needed most, reducing the reliance on fixed infrastructure and allowing for a more agile response to shifting market demands.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
